Indian pharma industry imports about ₹17,000 crore worth of active pharmaceutical ingredients from China every month. There are worries that as shortage builds, these prices will go up. During the meeting with Sithraman, pharma companies requested the government to consider airlifting of API supplies from China, in order to avoid shortages.
“There are no concerns about price rise (of medicines) so far. There is no report of shortage of masks and medicines in Indian hospitals. In fact, there was a demand from those who manufacture medical devices to remove the ban on exports,” Sitharaman said on the impact of coronavirus.